An acknowledgment is the public thanks of the family to everyone who helped or contributed in any way, before, during, and after the funeral. A funeral acknowledgment may be sent as a note to people present at the service, expressing their sympathy for the person who died.

Funeral acknowledgment cards, also known as sympathy appreciation cards, are meant to acknowledge the people who supported you during your time of grieving a recent loss. The grieving family usually sends Funeral Acknowledgement Cards to people who sent sympathy cards, made sympathy meals, and showed kindness in some form while grieving. To begin, know that thank you cards are typically sent out to people who helped through the tough times, whether it was watching their children or pets, providing meals, sending flowers, donating money for funeral expenses, sending a sympathy card, or attending a service.

You do not have to send out a formal thank you note to each and every person that came to the funeral or sent you a card acknowledging the death of a loved one. While it can be hard to muster up the energy to write a thank you note after the funeral, doing so is a meaningful way of acknowledging the love and kindness friends and family members showed you at this challenging time in your life. It is also good funeral etiquette to thank other family members and friends who were helpful at what was probably a tough time for many.